S. DELAFONT STAINLESS STEEL BARRELS,
VINIFICATION MATERIAL
illuminating terroirs
Welcome to S. Delafont stainless steel barrel website. Discover the story behind the concept, from drawing-board to manufacturing: stainless steel barrel technology and innovation with vinification and ageing advantages.
VINIFICATION MATERIAL
illuminating terroirs
Welcome to S. Delafont stainless steel barrel website. Discover the story behind the concept, from drawing-board to manufacturing: stainless steel barrel technology and innovation with vinification and ageing advantages.
L’histoire OF A MODERN DAY CASK, CREATOR OF STAINLESS STEEL BARRELS
Although Samuel Delafont was not born into a family of winegrowers, his entire professional career has evolved in the world of wine. With a keen interest in production, he created the Samuel Delafont wine making and merchant firm in 2010. He could now enjoy making his own wine, while targeting optimal balance.
He soon understood there was something to gain by supplementing wooden barrel ageing. He experimented on several types of vessels, resulting in the creation of a barrel-shaped stainless steel drum: lees are deposited smoothly on a wide curved surface, creating the ideal conditions for wine-lees contact. Electrolysis of lees is activated and wine gains in freshness, delicacy and aromatic complexity… results exceed expectations!
Innovative stainless steel barrels
RESPECTING THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE WINEMAKING
S. Delafont’s stainless steel barrels are the proud result of an exclusive partnership with a French industrial engineering company. The goal was to obtain an angle and crevice-free shape with the material, so as not to disturb the deposit of lees. In short, unique technology for perfectly curved barrels!
The resulting innovative barrel respects vinification and offers numerous advantages: preventing settling of lees and optimising their deposit, while providing conditions for easy cleaning and maintenance. Stainless steel barrels are a real plus for wine tourism too, as winery visitors love them!
100% French-made, the innovative product reflects the quest for harmony and balance, so important to Samuel Delafont.
Stainless steel barrels can be used for ageing and full or micro-vinification.
LEES AGEING
Stainless steel barrels favour exchange with lees. Dead yeasts settle on the barrel base before climbing the sides and triggering the release of polysaccharides. Polysaccharides give wine enhanced aromatic complexity and a longer finish. For optimal balance, lees must be very fine and contact surface as extensive as possible. With their curved shape and absence of angles, stainless steel barrels meet the requisite criteria perfectly.
FULL AND MICRO-VINIFICATION
Stainless steel barrels can be used for both full or micro-vinification: the 300 litre format is ideal for micro-cuvées.
Let our customers
DO THE TALKING
To learn more about who we are, there is nothing better than listening to those who know: the winegrowers and technical directors who are using our products daily explain how, why and what there is to gain by using stainless steel barrels. We extend our deepest thanks to our partners for their unwavering trust and support. Please feel free to contact us for any further information!
The barrels keep use of SO2 down…
Stainless steel barrels keep our wines taut…
Extremely positive results for Châteauneuf du Pape’s Grenache variety wines…
Stainless steel complements ageing in wood barrels…
